Device for operating rear curtains of cars



Dec. 13, 1932. KURTH 1,891,098

DEVICE FOR OPERATING REAR CURTAINS OF CARS Filed Oct. 19, 1931 Fig.1. f

*12 1 H- R 2a 2s 50 i as z7 Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES A.KURTH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS DEVICE FOR OPERATING REAR, CURTAINS OFCARS Application filed October 19, 1931. Serial No. 569,669.

This invention relates to devices for operating the rear curtains ofautomobiles and has for its object the production of a device of thischaracter operable by suction which is simple to manufacture, is easilyattached .to a car, and which maybe used in connection with the curtaininstalled on the car when purchased.

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated :in theaccompanying drawing.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred formthereof is illustrated in the drawing, this form having been found togive satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understoodthat the various ,instrumentalities of which the invention consists canbe variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited tothe precisearrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown .and described except as required by the scopeof theappended claims.

Of the drawing:

Figure l represents a front elevation of a device embodying theprinciples of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section of one end of the suctioncylinder.

Figure 3 represents a transverse sectionon line 3, 3, on 2.

Figured represents a transverse section on line 4,4, on Fig.1.

Figure 5 represents a transverse section on line 5, 5, on Fig. 2.

Figure 6 represents a side elevation of one end of the curtain roller.

Figure 7 represents an end elevation of the opposite end of said roller.

Figure 8 represents a longitudinal section on line-8, 8, on Fig. 7.

Figure 9 represents a longitudinal section of one end of the bar in thelower end of the curtain.

Figure 10 represents anelevation'of one endof a pulling cord with acup-shaped member secured thereto.

Figure 11 representsva plan of the suctioncontrolling valve, and

Figure 12 represents a section of same on 111118 12, 12 on Fig. 11.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures ofthe drawmg. 7

In the drawing, 10 is the frame of the rear window of an automobile andsecured to the upper end thereof are brackets 11, 12, supporting acurtain roller 13.

The bracket 12 has the usual pintle 14 eX- tending into a bearing 15 inone end of the curtain roller 13.

Within the roller 13 is a shaft 16 surrounded by a helical spring 17 oneend of which is secured to said shaft 16 while the opposite end thereofis secured to a partition 18 within the roller 13.

The outer end of the shaft 16 is flattened as at 19 and this flattenedend 19 extends into a slot in the bracket 11.

This construction of curtain roller is well known and therefor noattempt is made to illustrate the details thereof in the drawing.

Such rollers, however, are usually provided with detents 20 which lookthe roller in adjusted position when the curtain 21 attached thereto ispartially lowered.

In the p resent device, however, these detents 20 are unnecessary as thecurtain 21 attached to the roller 13 should at all times be Whollyraised or wholly lowered.

Sometimesit is desired to retain the curtain in lowered position for along time and this may be accomplished by manually actuated mechanismwithout using the suction mechanism.

Consequently, a sleeve 16% is placed around theshaft 16 beneath thedetents 20 to place them out of commission at all times.

When the curtain 21' is pulled down the spring 17 will be wound upgiving it increased tension to wind up the curtain when thecurtain isreleased.

The lower end of the curtain 21 has a, bar 22 confined therein extendingtransverselyof the curtain and in the opposite ends of the bar are screweyes23.

On the lower part of frame 10 and extending transversely thereof issecured a cylin der or tube 24 having peripheral slots 25 in theoppositeends thereof in which are disposed sheaves 26 revoluble about pins 27secured to said tube 24, as shown in Fig. 3.

Within the opposite ends of the tube or cylinder 24 are pistonsconsisting of a threaded member 28 having mounted thereon two guidedisks 29, 30, considerably separated and fitting the bore of said tube.

To the outer face of each inner disk 30 is clamped a cup-shaped packingmember 31 preventing leakage past the disk 30.

Secured at 32 to the outer end of each member 28 is a cord 33 whichpasses partially around each sheave 26 and through an eye 23 in the bar22, the upper ends of the cords 33 being provided with cup-shaped heads34 which prevent the ends of said cords being disengaged from said eyes23.

When the pistons 30, 31 are moved inwart ly toward each other within thetube 24, the curtain will be pulled down evenly by means of the cords 33secured to the opposite ends of the bar 22.

The tube 24 has secured thereto midway of its length a nipple 35 fromthe outer end of which extends a pipe 36.

The inner end 37 of the nipple 35 extends well into the tube 24 andserves as a stop for the pistons 29, 30 when moving inwardly toward eachother.

The pipe 36 extends to the intake manifold of the engine of theautomobile.

At some point in the pipe line 36, preferably on the instrument panel,is disposed a controlling valve 38, the casing of which is provided withpassages 39, 40 and a vent 41.

The passages 39, 40 communicate with the pipe 36 from the tube 24 to theengine intake manifold and when the valve plug 42 is in the positionshown in Fig. 12, the suction from the intake manifold will create asuction in the tube 24 between the pistons 29, 30 and cause them to movetoward each other and lower the curtain.

As long as the valve plug remains in this position the curtain will beheld in its lowered position.

As soon as the plug 42 is moved so that the passage 43 will communicatewith passage 39 and passage 44 will communicate with the vent 41, airwill be admitted to the tube 24 and the spring 17 will raise the curtain21.

On each pin 27 is a stirrup 45 which may be moved over an eye 23 whenthe curtain 21 is lowered to retain it in lowered position for anindefinite period.

By the use of the sleeve 1600 the curtains installed upon the carpurchased may be used in connection with the curtain operatingmechanism, thus saving the expense of providing a curtain roller ofspecial construction.

The cylinder or tube 24 maybe installed readily in any car at littlecost.

As two pistons are used which move simultaneously a better operation ofthe curtain is assured.

The cylinder 24 may be secured to the car immediately above the rearseat or may be hidden behind the seat.

The entire device is inexpensive to construct, is easily installed andwhen once installed operates efliciently.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the inventionwill be understood without turther description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a spring controlled curtainroller; a curtain attached thereto and having a bar at its lower end;cords secured to the opposite ends of said bar; an enclosedreciprocating piston connected to each cord, said pistons being movableindependently of each other; and

means for simultaneously moving both pistons in opposite directionsrelatively to each other to lower the curtain against the tension ofsaid spring.

2. In a device 01" the class described, a spring controlled curtainroller; a curtain attached thereto and having a bar at its lower end;cords secured to the opposite ends of said bar; a horizontal cylinderparallel to said curtain; and independent reciprocating piston in saidcylinder connected to each cord; and suction means communicating withsaid cylinder for simultaneously moving both pistons in oppositedirections relatively to each other to lower the curtain against thetension of said spring.

3. In a device of the class described, a curtain roller; a curtainattached thereto; a spring always under tension secured to said rollerand adapted to turn said roller in one direction to wind the curtainthereon; a horizontal cylinder beneath said roller; two pistons thereinat opposite ends of said cylinder when the curtain is in raisedposition; sheaves at the opposite ends of said cylinder; cords attachedto the opposite sides of the lower end of said curtain passing aroundsaid sheaves and each secured to a piston; and means for creating asuction in said cylinder between said pistons thereby effecting movementof said pistons toward each other.

4. In a device of the class described, a curtain roller; a curtainattached thereto; a spring always under tension secured to said rollerand adapted to turn said roller in one direction to wind the curtainthereon; a horizontal cylinder beneath said roller; two pistons thereinat opposite ends of said cylinder when the curtain is in raisedposition; sheaves at the opposite ends of said cylinder; cords attachedto the opposite sides of the lower end of said curtain passing aroundsaid sheaves and each secured to a piston; a pipe extending from themiddle of said cylinder to the suction side of an internal combustionengine and having an extension within said cylinder; and a valve in saidpipe;

Signed by me at 294 Washington St., Bios- 5 ton, Massachusetts, this14th day of October, 1931.

RICHARD A. KURTH.

